Modi Sarkar@2: The change in mindset to ‘yes, we can do’ is the biggest achievement, says Piyush Goyal

Says Piyush Goyal: After the Supreme Court cancelled the coal blocks, we introduced the system of reverse auction, which is very transparent.Shantanu Nandan Sharma | ET Bureau | Updated: May 18, 2016, 12:18 IST

Sunday ET catches up with Piyush Goyal on his views on two years of the Modi government.

On the achievementsWhile there are several tangible achievements in coal, power and new and renewable energy, the single, biggest satisfaction I get is from the changed mindset — from the days of pessimism and cynicism about power shortage, coal shortage, stalled projects and sick discoms (power distribution companies) to a situation where integrity is a given and cynicism has disappeared. The ability of our people to achieve extraordinary results and accept very aggressive targets is a matter of great satisfaction. Now, the feeling is: Yes, we can do. That change in mindset is the single biggest achievement. On coal, the massive increase in production, unprecedented in the history of India, coupled with significant measures to improve quality and more rational utilisation, has helped us reduce imports and, at the same time, kept the power cost affordable. Rural electrification, particularly, connecting 7,108 villages that are among the most difficult villages (to reach) in the country, is the most extraordinary feat. And in renewable energy, India is now running the world’s largest renewable energy programme, and the cost of renewable energy has drastically come down.

On the targetsThe prime minister has already set a target for us saying that we must have 24x7 power in every home and sufficient power for farmers by 2022. Given the last two years’ success and the support that I have received from my team, I am confident that I will be able to achieve the target by 2019. Similarly in solar, 20,000 MW was the target for the country in 2022. We have advanced the target date by five years and by 2017 we will achieve that. This year, I have decided to focus more on hydro and wind. There was a huge focus on solar last year, and the success is here to see.

On innovationThe first innovation that we had was soon after the Supreme Court cancelled the coal blocks. We introduced the system of reverse auction, which is very transparent, and people sitting anywhere in the world can follow it second by second. Now, we are using the same system across my three ministries (coal, power and new and renewable energy). And gradually, it is percolating down to all ministries and even to states. Private sector companies, I am told, are now using it after the success of reverse auction.

On a Super PMOI have not received even one instruction from the Prime Minister’s Office in the last two years. It’s a wrong impression that the PMO directs everything. Yes, the prime minister is very demanding and he keeps monitoring our work. I have gone to the PM for guidance because his ideas are superb.

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The ongoing field development and EOR/IOR projects are expected to produce a cumulative of 54.6 million tonne (mt) of crude oil and 114 billion cubic meter (bcm) of natural gas in the next three to four years, the report said.